Daphne Werlington
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| Portrayed by Jennifer Ehle | |
| Full Name | Daphne Lucinda Werlington, Duchess of Beaumont |
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| Associated Noble House(s) | Duchy of Beaumont, Earldom of Griffith |
| Date of Birth | 25th July 1779 |
| Father | Bernard Relmsey |
| Father's Rank | Earl of Griffith |
| Mother | Jemima Relmsey |
| Mother's Rank | Countess of Griffith |
| Town Residence | Beaumont House, 115 Park Street |
| Year of Debut | 1798 |
| Dowry | |
| Year of Marriage | 1800 |
| Spouse | Phillip Werlington |
| Spouse's Rank | Duke of Beaumont |
| Issue | Theodore (1803), Penelope (1807), Christian (1809) |
Daphne Werlington is the Duchess of Beaumont and is played by Kristie.
Family
- Husband: Phillip Werlington, Duke of Beaumont (43)
- Son: Lord Theadore Werlington (8)
- Daughter: Lady Penelope (Poppy) Werlington (4)
- Son: Lord Christian Werlington (1)
- Father: Bernard Relmsey, Earl of Griffith (71)
- Mother: Jemima Relmsey, Countess of Griffith (59)
- Brother: Damien Relmsey, Viscount Torrington (33)
- Brother: The Honourable Theodore Relmsey (27)
- Brother: The Honourable Vincent Relmsey (21)
- Sister: Lady Natalie Relmsey (17)
- Mother-in-law: Madeline Werlington, Dowager Duchess of Beaumont (68)
- Sister-in-law: Delphine McKaglan, Countess of Killeney (26)
- Derek McKaglan, Earl of Killeny (33)
- Sister-in-law: Ophelia Carliard, Countess of Morton (26)
- Harold Carliard, Earl of Morton (35)
Childhood
Daphne Relmsey was born, quite unexpectedly, a week early in her family’s summer estate in Cornwall. As a result, she had grown quite fond of the beach and the seaside considering she spent her childhood years there. She was the privileged only daughter of an Earl until her younger sister was born years later, and enjoyed the usual pastimes that girls of her station enjoyed, reading, sewing, fashion, some geography, history and above all, bossing her brothers around.
And while all of them were in fact indignant to be ordered around by a small slip of a female (especially young Vincent) they all loved her too much to tell her to stop.
Marriage
At the age of 17, Daphne was presented at Court and to society, where she dazzled the glittering throngs of the Ton, not with her looks, but in fact with her smile. She danced every dance with anyone, and was generally everybody’s best friend.
That very smile was almost her downfall. After three seasons in London, and still no ‘Prince Charming’;She had not enough suitors! Everyone saw her as a friend and everyone liked her as ‘Daphne’ but not romantically.
Which made her the perfect choice for Philip, the new Duke of Beaumont. He needed a wife to aid him in his political career, and Daphne fit the bill- Pint sized, energetic, likeable, responsible and with a good head on her shoulders.
He proposed, and since they were friends then, she accepted.
But what started off as just a friendly attachment, quickly grew into something more. Daphne was helping his political career take flight with her carefully crafted dinners, soirées and salons, and also with the strong network of friends she garnered in her three seasons in London.
He was greatly appreciative of her help, and vowed to make her happy for life. They went on long walks together, holidays to the country, to Paris and generally had the courtship that never took place before the marriage. Philip was falling in love, and abruptly, he realized he wanted Daphne to love him back.
Then it was all about winning the heart of your own wife. He tried everything, but all became well with the birth of his son and heir. After trying for three years for a child, Daphne was heartbroken at her failure. And then, she missed her monthly for two months and finally allowed herself to harbor hope. Her prayers were answered and 8 months later, she delivered baby Theodore into the world.
The moment she saw her husband’s eyes in her baby boy, she fell in love.
1811
Daphne never thought she could be a duchess. When Philip first proposed, Daphne had the shock of her life. She was never meant to be all prim and proper, and when she first started out, she did try, she tried to sit still and to stay home and to do all the things that Duchesses were supposed to do! Until on day, her mother-in-law, taking pity on her, shared with her the secret to being a political wife. ‘Be a Duchess.’ She said, ‘Duchesses are quite a rare breed. Everyone thinks the best of us, even when we are the worst.”
Which was quite true actually. And since people liked her for her bubbly happiness, she would bring that as a key point to her husband’s career. She shed her ‘duchess’ impressions and instead brought out Daphne, the girl she had been trying to hide since she got married.
Now she’s just Daphne. Simple, happy, smiling, well-dressed Duchess Daphne, mother of three.
She adores her family to no end, has no qualms about planning the most outrageous and talked about parties in the ton, but at the same time, will be able to throw a salon for her husband’s business partners in the same week.
Daphne has taken it upon herself to play hostess to her sister Natalie, despite the fact that she will not make her début until next year.